September 2010 Archives

Three women were arrested on suspicion of prostitution during a police sting operation into allegedly illicit massage parlors in Redondo Beach, officers said Wednesday.

The women were arrested Tuesday by undercover officers posing as customers, Redondo Beach police Sgt. Jon Naylor said.

The officers went to five massage parlors following complaints about prostitution. Three of the businesses were found to be involved in the crime, police said.

Arrested were:

• ]Xiang Barker, a 47-year-old Los Angeles resident who owns Sunflower Massage at 1611 S. Catalina Ave. She also practices massage.
• Mi Jung, a 31 year old Los Angeles resident, at Ace Acupressure, 2705 Artesia Blvd.
• Yushan Piao, a 47 year old Los Angeles resident at Redondo Therapy Massage Center., 914 Torrance Blvd.

In addition, detectives also found that masseuses at Ace Acupressure operating without State or City permits, Naylor said.

The women were booked at the Redondo Beach jail and released on their own recognizance. The Redondo Beach City Prosecutor will determine what charges they might face.

Two gunmen failed in an attempt to rob a Torrance Lowe's home improvement store and escaped with nothing, police said Wednesday.

Wearing masks and carrying handguns, two men entered the store at Western Avenue and 223rd Street about 10 p.m. Tuesday, Torrance police Sgt. Jeremiah Hart said.

They approached a cashier and forced her toward the back of the store. A manager saw them coming and locked a door.

Unable to get to the safe, the robbers ran. The woman was not hurt.

Police searched the building to make sure they were gone, and for any customers that might have hid inside.

*This item has been corrected to show the drive is at the Fair.

A couple of guys robbed Lowe's earlier tonight on Western in Torrance. No one was hurt.

Here's some quotes from the families of Henry Pearson and Jon Wilhite regarding today's guilty verdicts for Andrew Gallo, who was drunk when he crashed into a car carrying the Mira Costa High School grads in 2009. Gallo was guilty of three counts of murder.

Pearson was killed and Wilhite was seriously injured in the crash that also killed Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and their friend, Courtney Stewart. The full story will come later on dailybreeze.com and in tomorrow's print edition:

Pearson's father, Nigel:

"Gas pedals are just as deadly as a trigger on a gun in the wrong hands. There is no difference between putting yourself on the road in this situation and doing something with a gun. It's the same thing."

Wilhite's brother, Mike:

"Jon is glad that the trial is over and justice is served. As a family, we are glad that the trial finally got under way and that the 12 jurors came up with the right verdict."

Jurors recommended a judge sentence Jonathan Fajardo to death. We'll have more when we get it......

Jurors in OC just fond Andrew Gallo guilty of second degree murder in deaths of Manhattan Beach resident Henry Pearson, Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and Diamond Bar resident Courtney Stewart. 

Verdict to be announced shortly in Adenhart case. Gallo is accused of killing the Angels pitcher, Manhattan Beach resident Henry Pearson and Diamond Bar resident Courtney Stewart in drunken driving crash.

The jury decided whether to recommend that Jonathan Fajardo should go to death row or spend  his life in prison without parole has reached its decision. The verdict should come in shortly after 11. 

City News Service

A Southland youth hockey coach accused of molesting a boy was free on bail today, police said.

Daniel Gibb, 31, of Redondo Beach, was taken into custody Thursday just
outside his home, said Detective Mick Gaglia of the Hermosa Beach Police
Department.

``Detectives placed suspect Gibb under arrest following his confirmation
of the sexual molestation during a telephone conversation with the victim,''
Gaglia said.

``The molestation of the teenage boy occurred several years ago while he
was 11 and again while he was approximately 13,'' he said.

Gibb coached ice hockey at the Toyota Center in El Segundo and at ice
hockey facilities throughout Southern California, but authorities did not say
whether the alleged victim was on one of his teams.

He was released from jail today after posting a bond of $100,000 and is
scheduled to be in court Nov. 10.

Rufus Atchley has been found guilty of killing Robert Banes in San Pedro last year. He faces 50 to life.

Working on story.

Family and friends of a Gardena woman struck and killed by a car outside her home will hold a car wash Saturday to raise money for her funeral.

The car wash in memory of Jerilyn Fay Zimmerman will be held from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 13714 S. Normandie Ave., said her daughter-in-law Elena Fender.

Known in her neighborhood as "Mama Jeri," the 65-year-old mother of five sons was crossing the street in the 1400 block of 135th Street at 5:45 a.m. Wednesday when a Mercedes-Benz struck her.

Torrance police have started an Interactive Crime Pin Map and Weekly Crime Log on the department's website to provide information about specific incidents.

The information will be four days old to allow for preliminary investigations.

The site is can be found here.

Los Angeles police report an increase in thefts of Japanese model and Harley Davidson motorcycles in the Pacific Division area.

The crimes have occurred at public parking areas or gated parking lots at apartment complexes. Thieves have loaded motorcycles into either a truck or a van that is outfitted with straps or a ramp.

The LAPD division includes Westchester and Playa Vista.

Police in Redondo Beach said Wednesday they are looking for witnesses to a crash that killed a bicyclist who hit a pedestrian.

Eldon Johansen, 73, of Manhattan Beach suffered head injuries when he collided with a woman walking a dog at Avenue F and the Esplanade at 7:45 a.m. Sept. 10, Redondo Beach police Sgt. Phil Keenan said.

Johansen, a retired Palos Verdes Estates firefighter, fell into the street.
Johansen was not wearing a helmet and never regained consciousness. He died at County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center three days later.

The woman was not hurt.

Police said numerous people were in the area at the time. Officers need to speak with them.
Anyone with information should call Traffic Investigator Jeff Mendence, at 310-379-2477, extension 2721.

Police cited 42 drivers today for failing to yield to pedestrians during a sting operation in Torrance.

Officers conducted the special traffic enforcement operation in the 23800 block of Madison Street from 8 to 9:30 a.m., Torrance police Sgt. Jeremiah Hart said.

Officers cited the drivers when they failed to yield for colleagues crossing the street in a marked crosswalk
.
One driver was cited for driving without a license.

A Redondo Union High School teacher pleaded guilty Tuesday to exposing himself to a teenage student when they were alone in his classroom.

Louis Jay Haddad, 50, of Seal Beach entered his plea to one count of lewd conduct about 10 days before his trial was set to begin at the Torrance courthouse, Redondo Beach City Prosecutor Brenda Wells said.

Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 20. Wells said she would not release the terms of Haddad's plea agreement until then.

There's a shooting at the Harbor Hills project at PV Drive North and Western. I got nothing so far on it.

The El Segundo Police Department is reducing its lobby hours beginning Oct. 1 because of budget cuts and layoffs of two employees who staffed the counter, Police Chief Mitch Tavera announced Monday.

The lobby that was previously open 24 hours a day, seven days a week will now be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday. It will be closed on Sunday.

Residents can still call 911 in an emergency and use the non-emergency number, 310-524-2200, for service.

A phone and security door will be installed at the front of the police station for emergency assistance.

More soon.

An Inglewood man allegedly killed a 5-year-old girl while caring for her at an extended stay airport area hotel, police said Friday.

Solomon Douglas Walters, 24, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of killing MiAmor Steen at the Airport Parkview Hotel, 3900 W. Century Blvd., police and coroner's officials said.

Police went to the hotel at 1:35 p.m. following a report of a child not breathing, Inglewood police Lt. Oscar Serrano said.

Officers found MiAmor in the bathtub, unconscious and not breathing.

Paramedics performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation and took the child to a hospital. She was pronounced dead in the emergency room.

Detectives investigated the death initially as suspicious, but reclassified it to homicide when the coroner's office determined the cause of death was blunt force trauma to her head, Serrano said.

Walters was then arrested on suspicion of murder. He was booked at the Inglewood jail.

Police did not indicate the child's mother's whereabouts at the time of the child's injuries or Walters' relationship to her.

Police said Friday they need the public's help to find the killer of a Los Angeles man driving his car in Wilmington.

Vincenson Edwards, 24, of Los Angeles was killed at 5:50 p.m. Thursday at Pacific Coast Highway and Figueroa Street, police said.

Edwards was driving his 1994 white Chevrolet Caprice west on Pacific Coast Highway when a man driving a white car pulled alongside him.

The driver pulled out a gun, shot Edwards numerous times and drove away.

Police officers found Edwards unresponsive and suffering from gunshot wounds.

He died at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Harbor City.

Edwards was attending Harbor College, where he was a linebacker on the football team.

Police said he grew up in Harbor City. The football roster shows he was a Narbonne High School student.

Police asked anyone with information about the crime to call Detective Brian Gasparian or Officer Fernando Rivas at 310-726-7882.

I know people have called here and emailed on this case for a long time. So everybody knows: Torrance and San Pedro cosmetic surgeon Lawrence Saks was scheduled to be sentenced on Tuesday in U.S. District Court, but it already has been continued to Nov. 1. The prosecutor who was handling it has left the U.S. Attorney's Office and a new prosecutor has taken over.

Saks double-billed with false insurance claims and also practiced while claiming disability, and has a previous tax evasion conviction.

Tell your friends!

A Rancho Palos Verdes woman awakened last week to a man sitting on her bed stroking her hair, deputies said Wednesday.

The woman ran from the man and was unhurt in what deputies listed as an attempted rape, authorities said.

The man entered the home on Warnick Road through an open rear sliding door while the woman was sleeping at 2 a.m. Sept. 8, sheriff's Sgt. Steve Eschagary said.

"She woke up and he was sitting on her bed stroking her hair," Eschagary said.

After she ran, the man walked out of the house and disappeared.

The victim did not know him.

A detailed description of the man was not available.

I'll get more on this when I can, but this is what we are hearing so far:

Two men have been arrested in connection with a shooting at a Torrance house early today, police said.

The men allegedly crouched down behind cars in the 22600 block of Evalyn Avenue and opened fire about 1:30 a.m., police said. No one was hit.

Police stopped a white Suburban at Hawthorne and Del Amo boulevards a short time later and arrested the men.

No other information was available from police.

Neighbors said the shooting involved a dispute between a son of the residents, who had a falling out with an old friend over money.

The former friend allegedly hired the shooters to scare him, neighbors said.

Bullets hit the house and parked cars.

Torrance had a shooting this morning. No one was hit. Residents tell us it involved some guys hired to shoot someone who owned another guy money.

Trying to get information. Fortunately you residents let us know because the police didn't mention it to us......

I went along on an arrest this morning to catch a suspected tagger believed responsible for causing at least $8,000 damage in Lawndale. Story soon.

This came in from AP reporter Gillian Flaccus at the Andrew Gallo trial that got underway this morning. He is accused of killing Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, Manhattan Beach resident Henry Pearson, and Courtney Stewart of Diamond Bar last year. Jon Wilhite of Manhattan Beach survived.

The attorney for a man accused of driving drunk and causing a crash that killed Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart and two other people acknowledges her client was intoxicated but says he isn't a murderer.

Attorney Jacqueline Goodman said Tuesday in her opening statement to an Orange County jury that 23-year-old Andrew Gallo relied on his stepbrother to be his designated driver the evening of the crash. Goodman said Gallo did not act with conscious disregard for human life, despite having a blood-alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit

Opening statements are set to begin today in Orange County for Andrew Gallo, the guy charged with killing Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart in an alleged drunken driving crash last year.

If I can get a video of this online, I will:

A repeat offender tied to a Gardena robbery and sexual assault because he cut his finger during the crime was sentenced Friday to spend 31 years in prison.

Tony Ray Woods, 45, received his sentence in Torrance Superior Court after agreeing to plead no contest to felony counts of robbery and penetration with a foreign object, Deputy District Attorney Lowrie Mendoza said.

Woods avoided going to trial and a potential "three strikes" conviction that would have sent him to prison for 25 years to life.

He will not be eligible for parole until he is 70, Mendoza said.

Blood evidence linked Woods to the Jan. 13, 2008 robbery at a Baskin Robbins ice cream shop at 13424 Crenshaw Blvd., police said. He cut his finger while damaging the business' surveillance system.

Prosecutors said the number of years he received was not related to the fact it was a Baskin Robbins.

Full story at Dailybreeze.com soon.

A church pastor from Carson was charged Friday with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old member of his congregation, police said.

Leonel Pelayo, the 45-year-old pastor at Iglesia Apostolica Monte de Horeb in South Los Angeles, allegedly engaged in sexual relations with the girl between July 1 and Aug. 20, prosecutors said.

Pelayo is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 30 at the criminal courthouse in downtown Los Angeles on six felony counts, including lewd acts upon a child and unlawful sexual intercourse.

He is free on $140,000 bail.

Detectives with the Los Angeles Police Department's Juvenile and Fugitive Task Force arrested Pelayo at 1 p.m. Thursday
.
Police said Pelayo befriended the girl in a church youth group and took her to several vacant locations, where the crimes occurred.

Pelayo, who is listed as a "realtor" on the LAPD arrest log, owns several properties in the city and county and used "possibly used some of the locations to commit his crimes," police said.
Investigators said there might be more victims who did not report any crimes. Detectives asked them to come forward.

The church is located at 99th Street and Vermont Avenue.

Anyone with information was asked to contact detectives at 213-486-0570.

Police are inviting residents who live in two Manhattan Beach neighborhoods to participate in the city's Neighborhood Watch program.

Officers will hold a meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday to recruit volunteers and revitalize the program.
The city has been divided into Neighborhood Watch areas. This meeting concerns residents living in two jurisdictions: Area 8, bounded by Sepulveda Blvd, First Street, Aviation Boulevard and Artesia Boulevard; and Area 11, bounded by Sepulveda Boulevard, Rosecrans Avenue, Aviation Boulevard and Marine Avenue.

Residents of other neighborhoods also may attend.

Manhattan Beach Neighborhood Watch is celebrating its 30 year anniversary this year. Residents become involved in crime prevention, along with home and personal safety education.

Police said hundreds of Manhattan Beach residents participate as the "eyes and ears" of the city, but numerous streets are not represented.

"MBPD encourages our residents to participate in making our community safer than it already is," Crime Prevention Officer Stephanie Martin said. "We depend on neighbors being knowing, not nosey."

The meeting will be held in the police station's community room at 420 15th St.
For more information, call 310-802-5183 or 310-802-5184

Here's a statement from the Manhattan Beach Unified School District just put out on the search today:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


Mira Costa High School Precautionary Lockdown

Manhattan Beach, CA, September 8, 2010
On Wednesday, September 8, 2010, at approximately 10:00 a.m., a backpack containing items that included lighter fluid and a large number of matches was found on the campus of Mira Costa High School, located at 1401 Artesia Blvd. Possession of these types of items is considered dangerous and a violation of school district policies. Acting with an abundance of caution, school and district officials took actions to maximize the safety of all students, staff and community members.

Officials from the Manhattan Beach Unified School District, Mira Costa High School Administration and the Manhattan Beach Police Department coordinated a response effort, and the school was placed on a lockdown while police officers and school officials conducted a search.

At no time was it thought that staff or students were in danger; however, as a precautionary measure, a search of the campus was conducted. In addition to all offices and rooms, students' backpacks were also searched for related items. Upon completion of the searches, the campus was determined to be safe, and students and staff were released to their lunch break. Afternoon classes and activities proceeded as normal.

Mr. Ben Dale, Principal of Mira Costa, stated, "I am very proud of our students, faculty and staff. We all worked together to ensure the continued safe learning environment at our school."

At this time, no crime has been committed. An investigation into the incident is underway with cooperation between MBUSD and MBPD personnel.

Dr. Michael Matthews, Superintendent of Schools, stated, "Safety is always the highest priority at each of our schools. School and district officials took actions that maximized the safety of all of our students and staff. We are already debriefing the events of today. We will focus on the actions and communications that were effective as well as those which we could have improved. It is of paramount importance that school and district administration and staff learn from incidents such as this to ensure that our schools remain safe environments that support student learning."

Police searched the Mira Costa High School campus today after a backpack containing a large amount of matches and lighter fluid was discovered on campus.

Students were placed in lockdown about 10 a.m. Nothing else was found and no crime was believed committed, police said.

"At no time, was it thought that staff or students were in danger, however, as a precautionary measure, a cursory search of the campus was conducted," Manhattan Beach police Officer Stephanie Martin said.

Besides offices and rooms, students' backpacks were checked.

Students were released to their lunch break when the search was completed.

Although no crime was committed, possession of the lighter fluid and matches were in violation of school policy, police said.

An investigation was under way.

Mira Costa High School officials locked down the campus today after finding a backpack containing lighter fluid and a large amount of matches, police said.

They searched the campus, but found nothing else.

I'm waiting for more information and will pass it on when I get it.....

Have you seen this? Ron Ron being Ron Ron.....

TMZ posted this photo and story today. It's Ron Artest of the Lakers getting pulled over while driving a race car in LA. I love this guy.

Manhattan Beach's police and fire departments will hold an open house Saturday that features equipment displays and station tours.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the police and fire facility at 15th Street and Valley Drive, Manhattan Beach police Officer Stephanie Martin said.

Highlights include a firefighting demonstration and the special weapon's team's Super Droid Robot.

Equipment on display includes a fire truck, paramedic van, SWAT van, the Beach Patrol Rhino all-terrain vehicle, a beach Quadrunner, a patrol car, and police motorcycle. The police mobile command center also will be on display.

Police and firefighters also will show specialized equipment used for SWAT, animal aid, rescues and firefighting.

Besides meeting firefighters and police officers, people who attend can speak with volunteers for the Neighborhood Watch, victim's assistance,  Community Emergency Response Team and the Volunteers in Policing programs.

The police and fire facilities will be open for tours. City officials will address those in attendance at 11:15 a.m.

Members of the departments changed their work schedules so no overtime will be spent on the event, which prevented it last year and in May, because of budget constraints, Martin said.

It's Saturday night of a holiday weekend, so we'll sort this out next week when we all return to work. But, to be fair, I'm posting this and getting back to my weekend.

Debra Brass bought six tickets from Ticketmaster in March 2010. She planned to go to the Lady Gaga concert for her birthday with friends including Nicole Lagrotta and Lyndsay Eisenberg. By April, Brass's friends had dropped out of the plans.

Not wanting to attend the concert alone, Brass sold the six tickets she had purchased from Ticketmaster on craigslist to four people.

About a week before the concert, Brass received a couple of phone calls from unknown individuals, claiming that they had purchased tickets with Brass' name on them from craigslist and had been given her contact information. The unknown individuals claimed that Ticketmaster was stating that the electronic ticket order had been cancelled, and thus voided. Realizing that something was very wrong, in good conscience, Brass attempted to return the money to the people she had sold the tickets to. Ultimately, she wanted to discover what had happened, rectify the situation, and do the right thing.

Wow, this could have been a good story -- front page even -- had it been sent to me during the day Friday and not at 10 Friday night.

Here's a Hermosa Beach PD press release:

"Hermosa Beach resident arrested in connection with Lady Gaga ticket fraud."

Suspect #1:                              Debra Louise Brass 
                                                27 year old Hermosa Beach resident                            
                                               
Charge:                                    532(a) PC- False Pretenses, theft                    
Bail:                                          $20,000
 
Victim:                                     30+ victims
 
Loss:                                        over $10,000 total
 
Details:
A Hermosa Beach resident/victim came to the HBPD on 8-11-2010 to report they had purchased tickets for a "Lady Gaga" concert at the Staples Center from a seller on "Craigslist".  When the Hermosa Beach resident/victim showed up at the Staples Center to attend the concert, they were denied entry by concert staff.  The tickets turned out to be fraudulent.  According to the Hermosa Beach resident/victim, there was approximately 50 other victims at the Staple's Center who had purchased fraudulent tickets from the same suspect via "Craigslist".  The Hermosa Beach resident/victim took it upon herself to make a list of some of the victims present, and later gave that list to HBPD detectives.
 
The suspect had advertised tickets on "Craigslist" for the highly sought after "Lady Gaga" concert on 8-11-2010.  The Hermosa Beach resident/victim contacted the suspect and arraignments were made to pick up the tickets from the suspect's home, also in Hermosa Beach.  The Hermosa Beach resident/victim responded to the suspect's house and purchased the tickets.  It was not discovered that the tickets were fraudulent until the victim attempted to enter the concert and was denied.
 
Based on the information provided by the Hermosa Beach victim, HBPD detectives were able to identify, locate, and ultimately arrest the suspect.  The suspect is free on $20,000 bail with arraignment set for 10-13-2010 at the Torrance Court House.
 
During the course of the investigation, HBPD detectives were able to locate and identify 30 more victims of the ticket fraud perpetrated by the suspect.  A victim was located as far away as Seattle Washington. 
 
Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Detective Bohacik at (310) 318-0330.

I was so busy the other day, I forgot to use some information my former colleague Denise Nix left for me in connection with a sexual assault case. Denise recently left the Breeze.

The defendant, Brian Grahlman, was sentenced Wednesday. But a few weeks ago, his victim made her victim's impact statement to the judge early.

I had the statement all prepared and ready to attach to the sentencing story, but my schedule on Wednesday got all confused and I forgot to use it.

Here's what Denise left for me:

Jane Doe, said she has not been the same since the attack. While she once thought of herself as strong and independent, she is now fearful. She said she has nightmares, has attended therapy, is experiencing trust issues and difficulties in her relationships.

"This incident has broken me," she said.

In urging Judge Mark Arnold to impose the maximum sentence for Grahlman, she added: "I feel this will change me forever and I want him to have a life-changing experience as well."

Grahlman got the max.

Thieves have stolen 32 Honda and Acuras in Torrance since May, police reported Thursday.

The thefts have occurred in commercial and residential areas, including at apartments and single-family homes.

The crimes are occurring mostly Sundays through Tuesday between 6 and 10 p.m.

So far, the tally is 15 1990-2007 Honda Accords, 12 1988-2007 Honda Civics, and five 1991-2001 Acura Integras.

The thefts have risen, including four in May, six in June, nine in July and 13 in August.

Police advised residents to make sure their vehicles are locked and parked in safe locations.
Anyone with information should contact Torrance detectives at 310-618-5574.

Burglars posing as utility workers took property Thursday from two homes in Torrance, police said.

The crimes occurred in the 5600 block of Bartlett Drive and the 5100 block of Paseo de Pablo.

In each case, the men lured residents into the backyard to discuss a problem with their utilities.
While one distracted the resident, the other entered the home and took property.

The burglars were described as dark-skinned white or Latino men driving a silver Toyota Matrix.
Police advised residents to call 911 if they see the men.

A three-vehicle crash Wednesday sent three people to hospitals and shut down a Torrance intersection for two hours, police said.

The crash occurred about 1:10 p.m. at 182nd Street and Hawthorne Boulevard, Torrance police Sgt. Jeremiah Hart said.

The driver and passenger in one car were taken to County Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. They suffered minor injuries.

A second passenger, however, suffered major injuries and was reported in serious condition.
Police are investigating what happened.

Johnny Jeffrey Maciel, who raped a woman at a Jiffy Lube in Torrance, was just sentenced to 12 years in prison. I was there and am working on a story that will be up later.